LEARNING THE ROPES – Players on the new Pope John Paul II boys varsity lacrosse team run a play during practice March 27. The team is coached by Rory Morse, who played for Falmouth.

Lions add boys lacrosse to spring lineup

There’s been another first at Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis, a new member of the athletic team family. Joining the school’s already existing spring lineup of baseball, sailing, softball, and tennis is boys lacrosse.

“Every year we put out feelers to figure out what needs to be added,” said John Muldoon, the school’s athletic director. “We kind of just wanted to grow what we had last year, but this was pretty popular.”

Muldoon said a survey of existing and prospective students revealed a significant interest in the sport.

“The incoming kids and current students asked for it,” he said. “We had numbers that made sense to add another sport.”

The school then lucked out in terms of finding a coach when Rory Morse signed on. Morse comes to the program with experience playing at the high school and college levels, having competed with Falmouth High, Syracuse and Salve Regina. He also played with a select team in Europe.

“We’re really excited about our coach,” Muldoon said. “Rory has a tremendous background in not just coaching but playing lacrosse. He’ll not only help our program grow, but he’ll also be able to help athletes recruited by colleges.”

Muldoon said it helps that Morse is comfortable with the level his new team is starting at.

“We have some kids on the team that could play anywhere on the Cape, but we also have some who are new to the game,” Muldoon said.

As the team gets going, Morse is concentrating on skill building and introducing players to the various positions they might play. He acknowledged that it took a bit of persuading for him to accept the coaching job.

“Assistant football coach Chris Parisi had asked me a couple times, then (hockey coach) Brian Ferreira, and finally Ronnie Braga, the asst. hockey coach,” Morse said. “Three guys who were in the school that I consider really good guys. After the third I said, ‘It’s got to be a sign of some sort.’”

Morse said he is thrilled he accepted the position.

“I’m really happy,” he said. “I think I have a great coaching staff, with the hockey, football, baseball coaches. It’s kind of an honor to be a part of this, that tradition that Pope John Paul II is trying to instill in the area.”

Morse recalled playing against Boston College High while on the Falmouth team, and hopes to build a team with similar strengths on Cape Cod.

“I want to help build a program for Cape Cod in this area that’s built on the success of those programs closer to the city,” he said. “Lacrosse has given me a lot and I’m glad to give back.”

For Morse, the thrill of lacrosse comes from its level of energy and how it can be both a team game and an individual experience.

“Lacrosse is great because it’s a team game, but inside of the team game are one-on-one battles,” Morse said. “Players compete against each other, but you win and lose as a team.”

The new team is comprised mainly of underclassmen, with just one senior, four juniors, two sophomores, and the remainder freshmen.

“We’re going to be a bunch of good guys this year.” Morse said. “It’s going to be a great learning experience for a lot of guys to build on for years to come.”

Muldoon said that an attempt was made to form a girls team, but not enough players came out.

Although the new boys team will play at the varsity level, Morse is focusing more on helping his team become skilled players.

“With anything, I would love to be successful my first year with wins and losses, but if anything, it’s about getting the game to grow,” he said. “Having the guys learn and get better every day. The wins and losses will come. We’re going to cherish the good and learn from the bad.”